Heating of fluids



March 10, 1942. c, HENSEL HEATING OF FLUIDS 5 SheetS- Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18, -l940 March 10, 1942. w. c. HENSEL 2,275,432

HEATING OF FLUIDS Filed Jan. 18, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o Q o u 0o 0 n o I no o I u 0 0a March 1942- w. c. HENSEL 2,275,432

HEATING 0F FLUIDS Filed Jan. 18, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 10, 1942 HEATING or FLUIDS Walter C. Hensel. Chicago, Ill., assignor to Universal Oil Products Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Delaware Application January 18, 1940, Serial No. 314,376

2 Claims.

The invention relates to an improved form of heater of the type employing high rates of heat transfer to fluid undergoing treatment therein and which is particularly well adapted to the heating of hydrocarbon oils to the high temperatures required for their pyrolytic conversion.

This heater employs a substantially vertical refractory wall disposed centrally between refractory-side walls and dividing the space within the lower portion of the heater into separate combustion zones. One or a plurality of substantiall'y vertical rows of horizontallydisposed tubes, comprising a portion of the fluid conduit.

are disposed adjacent each side of the central wall and receive heat at a high rate of radiation from the refractory side walls and from flames and hot combustion gases passing through the combustion and heating zones. The heater is fired in a generally upward direction in such a manner that the flames and hot combustion gases impinge upon and pass over the refractory side walls, heating the same to a highly radiant condition.

The refractory side walls of the heater slope inward, starting at a point approximately corresponding in elevation to the upper end of the central wall, and terminating in substantially vertical walls defining a fluid heating zone disposed above and spaced from said central wall.

The combustion gases from each of the sepa-. rate combustion and heating zones commingle above the central wall of the heater and pass upwardly through the fluid heating zone to the flue or stack. The tubes disposed on opposite sides of the central wall extract a large portion 'of the radiant heat from the combustion gases in said combustion and heating zones and residual radiant heat is recovered from the commingled gases by another portion of the fluid conduit comprising tubes disposed between the upper end of the central wall and the fluid heating zone or adjacent the sloping portion of the side walls, or both. In passing through the fluid heating zone, the gases supply heat to another portion of the fluid conduit comprising a bank of tubular elements disposed in this zone. The gases pass in direct contact with the tubular elements of the bank in the fluid heating zone and are thereby appreciably further cooled prior to their discharge from the heater.

No novelty is claimed herein for this general form of heater except in combination with the arrangement of thetubular elements provided; By locating the tubular elements disposed within the combustion and heating zones adjacent the central wall instead of adjacent the outer walls of the heater, the danger of damage to the refractories of the central wall from overheating is largely eliminated and permits the use of a cheaper and less massive construction for this wall with safety. It obviates the use of an aircooled central wall and thus permits the use of standard fire-brick shapes for its construction instead of the more expensive suspended shapes and obviates the necessity of a supporting steel structure for the central wall refractories. Firing against the outside walls, rather than the center wall, permits the use of additional tubular elements within the space defined by the sloping side walls, the upper end of the central wall and the tube bank in the fluid heating zone without the danger of flame impingement against l the fluid heating zone and still lower rates will heating zone. Thus, by varying the sequence of flow through the three tube banks a wide variation may be obtained in the heating curve, In addition to the advantages resulting from the arrangement of fluid conduits provided by the invention, all of the inherent advantages of this general form of heater with the fluidconduits arranged in conventional form are retained.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a vertical cross-sectional view of a heater incorporating the features of the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 each illustrate the upper portion of the same form of heater illustrated in Fig. 1 with modifications ofthe arrangement of tubular elements in this portion of the heater.

Figs. 4 to 10 illustrate a few of the many various arrangements of flow through the fluid conduit which may be employed in the heaters illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, the heater here illustrated has refractory side walls indicated by the reference numerals l and I, a refractory floor 2, a foundation 3, and a central refractory wall 4 resting on the foundation and extending vertically upward within the furnace. The central wall 4 extends between the refractory end walls of the heater, which do not appear in the view here illustrated. Portions and 5' of the side walls I and I, respectively, slope inward above the central wall 4 and terminate in substantially vertical walls 6 and 6', respectively, which, together with the end walls, define a fluid heating zone 1. The space between the substantially vertical lower portion of wall I and wall 4 comprises combustion and heating zone 8 and the corresponding space between walls I and 4 comprises a separate combustion and heating zone- 9. That portion of the heater defined by the sloping side walls and the end walls and disposed between the fluid heating zone and the top of wall 4 comprises another separate heating zone In through which direct communicating is established between zones 8 and 9 and zone I.

A tube bank comprising, in the particular case here illustrated, a single substantially vertical row of horizontally disposed tubes I2 is located adjacent the face of wall 4 within .com-

bustion and heating zone 8. Another tube bank |3, which in this particular case is substantially identical with bank II, is located adjacent the opposite face of wall 4 within combustion and heating zone 9.

Another tube bank |5 comprising'a plurality of superimposed horizontal rows of horizontally disposed tubes I6 is located within heating zone Ill. Bank l5 extends from immediately above the central wall 4 to immediately beneath fluid heating zone and is symmetrical on opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the center of the heater and each succeeding row from the bottom to the top of this bank has a greater number of tubes than th adjacent lower row, the bank |5 being wedge shaped, as shown.

Another separate tube bank I! comprising a plurality of horizontal rows of horizontally disposed tubes IB is located within heating zone 1.

A row of burners l8 disposed beneath the floor 2 of the furnace and adjacent each of the reiractory side walls I and I communicate through firing ports I9 in the floor with th combustion and heating zones 8 and 9. Flames and hot combustion gases issuing from the burners are directed in a substantially continuous sheet against each of the side walls I and I and travel upwardly thereover to heat the same to a highly radiant condition. Heat is transmitted from the side walls and from the flames and hot combustion gases to the tubular elements of banks l1 and I3 and, by varying the firing-conditions in the separate combustion and heating zones, different rates of heating may, when desired, be obtained in the tube banks I and I3.

The combustion gases which have given up a substantial portion of their heat to the tubes of banks II and I3 commingle in zone In and supply heat to the tubes of bank l5. They thence pass through zone I wherein they impartheat to the tubes of bank I1 and are thence directed through flue to a suitable stack, not illustrated.

In Fig. 2 the same reference numerals employed in Fig. l designate corresponding portions of the heater. However, in Fig. 2 the uppermost row of tubes in bank l5 has been shortened by eliminating the two outermost tubes in this row and two additional tube banks 2| and 22, each comprising a single row of horizontally disposed tubes 23, are provided adjacent the respective sloping walls 5 and 5'.

In Fig. 3 the same reference numerals as employed in Figs. 1 and 2 are also utilized to indicate corresponding portions of the heater. Th

' the form illustrated in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4 the stream 40 of oil or otherfluid to be heated is dividedinto two streams 4| and 4 of substantially equal volume. Stream 4| is passed through the left-hand side of tube banks l1 and IS in series and thence in series through the tubes of bank while stream 4| is passed through the right-hand side of banks I1 and IS in series and thence in series through the tubes of bank l3, the two streams being thence united in a single stream 42 which is discharged from the heater. With this arrangement, the separate streams 4| and 4| each pass through the same number of tubes and are each subjected to progressively increasing temperatures. With substantially equal firing on opposite sides of the central wall of the heater, substantially equal heating is accomplished in the two streams and by dividing the total fluid to be heated into two streams, pressure drop through the heating coils is materially reduced.

In Fig. 5, one stream 50, comprising, for example, relatively high boiling hydrocarbon .oil

. to be cracked, is supplied to tube bank II wherein it flows in series through the adjacent tubes of each row and in series through the adjacent rows from the top to the bottom of this bank. It is thence supplied to tube bank l3 and flows in a series through the adjacent tubes of this bank in a downward direction and is discharged from the lowermost tube thereof. A separate stream 5| of lower boiling hydrocarbon oil to be cracked is supplied to the uppermost row of tube bank I5 and flows downwardly therethrough in series through the adjacent rows of tubes and through the adjacent tubes in each row and thence passes downwardly inseries through the tubes of bank II to be discharged from the lowermost tube of this bank. With this arrangement more severe firing conditions are preferably employed in the heating zone wherein bank II is disposed than those employed in the heating zone wherein bank I3 is disposed, whereby th relatively low-boiling oil is subjected to more se- .vere cracking conditions than the high-boiling oil.

In Fig. 6 a single stream 60 of hydrocarbon oil or other fluid to be heated is passed in series through adjacent tubes in each row and through the adjacent rows of tubes in bank I! and then in bank N3, the fluid thence passing in series through the adjacent tubes of bank in a downward direction and thence in series through the adjacent tubes of bank 3 in an upward direction and is discharged from the uppermost tube of bank l3 and from the heater. With this arrangement, depending upon the type of fluid undergoing treatment, substantially the same or difierent firing conditions may be maintained on temperature previously attained for a predetermined time by employing milder firing condiitons in the combustion zone wherein tube bank |3 series through the adjacent tubes of bank and finally upwardly in series through the remaining tubes in each row of bank being discharged from the uppermost row of this bank. As applied to the cracking or reforming of relatively light hydrocarbon oil distillates, when milder heating conditions are employed in the heating zone wherein bank H is disposed, as compared with those employed in the heating zone wherein bank I3 is disposed, a heating curve similar to that obtainable with the flow shown in Fig. 6 will result, except that somewhat shorter cracking time and longer soaking time is provided with the flow shown-in Fig. '7.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate two of the many various flows which may be employed in a heater such as shown in Fig. 1, modified to incorporate tube banks 2| and 22 as shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 8, two streams 80 and 8| of the'same or separate fluids are supplied to the heater. Stream 80 passes through the left-hand side of tube bank flowing downwardly in series through adjacent rows and in series through the adjacent tubes in each row. It thence passes through the left-hand side of bank l5 flowing in a generally downward direction therethrough in series through adjacent tubes and is thence transferred to the uppermost tube of bank 2| and flows downwardly in series through adjacent tubes of this bank and thence downwardly in series through adjacent tubes in bank ll wherefrom it is discharged. Stream 8| follows a substantially identical course through the right-hand side of bank H, the right-hand side of bank l5, and through banks 22 and I3.

With substantially the same firing conditions in both combustion and heating zones, the flow shown in Fig. 8 may be employed to heat two substantially equal streams of the same oil under substantially identical. conditions, each stream being subjected to progressively more comprising, for example, a stream of heavy hydrocarbon oiland a stream of lighter hydrocarbon oil to be converted, stream 90 being the heavy oil and stream 9| the lighter oil, are supplied to the heater. Stream 9!] is passed down"- wardly in series through adjacent tubes and adjacent rows of tubes on the left-hand side of bank 1, thence downwardly in series through adjacent tubes of bank 2| and finally downwardly in series through the adjacent tubes of bank to be discharged from the lowermost tube of this bank. Stream 9|- passes downwardly in series through the adjacent tubes and adjacent rows 'of tubes on the right-hand side of bank I! and is thence transferred to the lowermost tube of bank l3 and flows upwardly in series through the adjacent tubes of this bank. thence upwardly in series through the adjacent tubes of bank- 22 and. finally passes downwardly in series through adjacent rows of tubes and in series through adjacent tubes of each row in bank l5 to be discharged from the lowermost row of tubes of this bank.

With the arrangement shown in Fig. 9 more severe firing conditions are preferably employed in the heating zone wherein bank I3 is disposed than in the heating zone wherein bank II is disposed. The heavy oil stream is subjected to progressively more severe heating conditions throughout its path of flow through the heating coil, while the light oil stream is preheated in the right-hand side of bank I 1, reaches its maximum cracking temperature as it flows through banks I3 and 22 and is given a relatively short soaking time in bank l5. 1

Fig. 10 illustrates one of the many specific flows which may be-employed in the heater shown in Fig. 1, modified to include banks 2| and 22 of Fig. 2 and omit bank l5. In Fig; 10 a stream I00 of oil or other fluid to be heated is supplied to and passes downwardly in series through adjacent rows of tubes and in series through adjacent tubes in each row on the left-hand side of bank thence downwardly in series through adjacent tubes of bank 2| and finally downwardly in series through adjacent tubes of bank II, to be discharged from the lowermost tube of this bank. A separate stream ll of the same or dissimilar fluid is supplied to the right-hand side of bank H and flows downwardly in series through the tubes of this portionof the bank and through the tubes of bank 22 and finally through the tubes of bank l3 to be discharged I maintainedin the two combustion and heating from the lowermost tube of the latter bank.

As applied to the cracking of two substan-, tially equal streams of the same oil with the flow shown in Fig. 10, substantially equal firing conditions are maintained in the two combustion and heating zones of the heater and each stream is subjected to substantially the same heating conditions and to progressively more severe heating conditions throughout its course of flow. As applied to the cracking of two separate streams of different oils with the flow shown in Fig. 10, different firing conditions are preferably zones, independent control of the heating conditions to which the separate streams are subjected being obtained in banks I and I3 and to a considerable degree in banks 2| and 22.

It will, of course, be understood that the flows shown illustrate only a few of the many possible variations which are within the scope of the invention and which may be readily devised by one familiar with the art. They are intended to merely illustrate the flexibility of the improved form of heater provided by the invention.

I claim as my invention:

-1. A furnace for heating fluids comprising, in

combination, side and end walls defining the lower portion of the furnace, a central wall dividing said lower portion of the furnace into separate combustion zones, fluid conduits disposed adjacent the opposite sides of said central wall, a fluid heating zone communicating with said combustion zones,'1"neans for supplying combustible mixtures offuel and air upwardly into from said central wall to the opposite side of said fluid conduits disposed adjacent the same, means for passing combustion gases from each of said combustion zones to said fluid heating zone, heating tubes disposed immediately beneath said fluid heating zone and above said central wall and connected in series with at least one of said fluid conduits, and means for passing said combustion gases over .the last mentioned heating tubes.

2. A furnace for the heating of fluids comprising, in combination, side and end walls defining the lower portion of the furnace, a vertical wall extending between said end walls and disposed centrally in relation to said side walls, fluid conduits disposed adjacent opposite sides of said central wall, a floor containing firing ports disposed adjacent said side walls, burners 'communicating with said firing ports, said burners and firing ports being so disposed as to direct combustible fuel mixtures at an angle against and over the inner faces of said side walls in a general upward, direction, a fluid heating zone of smaller cross-sectional area than said lower portion of the furnace and communicating with said combustion zones, said fluid heating zones being located above said central wall, spaced therefrom and disposed centrally in relation to the lower portion of the furnace, sloping walls disposed above the side walls of said lower portion of the furnace and connecting the latter with the side walls .of said fluid heating zone, heating tubes in said fluid heating zone, and additional heating tubes disposed immediately beneath said fluid heating zone and above said central wall and connected in series with at least one of said fluid conduits.

WALTER C. HENSEL. 

